Self-lubricating journal-box.



No. 725,888,.- 1 PATENTED APR. 21, 1903-.4

J. P. SMITH, JB. .SELF LUBRIGATING JOURNAL BOX.

No MODEL' APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 15, 1902. a SHEETS-SHEET 1v.

A-ZF W// II IH! Il IIIIIII \I I; CO I- w-T; N' l Q K oz- T No. 725,888. I PATENTED APR.21, 1903.

' J. P. SMITH, Jn.

SELF LUBRIGATING JOURNAL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.15. 1902. NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

U'NiTED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. SMITH, JR., OF EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOROF'ONE-THIRD TO JOSEPH P. ROSS, O F EAU CLAIRE, VISCONSIN.

SELF-LU BRICATING JO U RNAL-BOX.

SBEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 725,888, dated April 21, 1903. Application filed October 15.1902. Serial No. 127,408. (No model.)

To all 1,071,012?, it may concern; hanger, or other two-part support for the re- Be it known that I, JOHN F. SMITH, Jr., a ception of any form of revoluble shaft or citizen of the United States, residing at Eau axle. 'lhe cap 11 is yprovided with a central Claire, in the county of Eau Claire and State recess'lof any dimensions to form a lubri- 55 5 of Wisconsin, have invented a new and usecant-reservoir, .and said reservoir communifulSelf-LubricatingJournal-Box,of which the cates with the shaft through openings 15, the following is a specification. diameter of the openings being governed by The invention relates to certain improvethe diameter of the shaft and the quality of ments in journal-boxes, and has for its prinlubricant employed. Secured to the shaft at 6o l cipal object to provide an improved form of each end of the bearing is a collar 1G, proself-lubricating box or bearing in which the vided with an annular groove 17, of which lubricant draining from the bearing will be the outermost portion forms an oil-receiving caught and automatically returned to a posirecess,and into the lower portion of the tion above the shaft for further use. groove project inclined ribs or flanges 1S, 65 I Afurther object of the invention is to proformed integral with the pillow or base and vide a self-lubricating bearing of simple and adapted lo convey anylubricant passing beeconomical construction which will require yond the end of the bearing to a point withattention only at long intervals and in which in the groove 17. Ar each end of the cap is all of the parts are protected from dust and securedadrain-spout 19,whicb maybe formed 7o zo dirt. of sheet metal bent to form an'elongated rec- With these and other objects in View the tangular box open at the top and at one end, invention consists in the novel construction the open end communicating with the reserand arrangement of parts hereinafter devoir 14. One of the vertical walls of the scribed, illustrated in the accompanying drain-spout is of a contour corresponding to 75 drawings, and particularly pointed out inthe -that of the wall of the groove 17 and without appended claims, it being understood that actually coming into contact with the wall of various changes in the forn1,proportions,size, the groove forms a scraper for the removal of and minor details of the structure may be the film of oil which willclingto the groove made without departing from the spirit or or in the case of'a rapidly-revolving Vshaft 8o 3o sacrificingany of the advantages of theinvenwill be held under the influence of centrifution'.` gal force against the outer wall of said groove. In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis The scraping-plates serve to remove the oil a longitudinal sectional elevation of a jourfrom the grooves and convey the same to the nal-box constructed in accordance with the reservoir, from whence itpasses through the 35 invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional openings 15 tothe shaftand is again conveyed elevation of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. by the ribs or anges 18 to said groove. 1. Fig. 3 is -a sectional perspective View of The circulation of the oil, while comparathe draining-collar detached. Fig. 4 is a pertively slow, is continuous and there is little spective view of the drain-spout for conveyor no waste and the initial supply may be 9o 4o ing the oil from the collar to the upper resersuiicientto keep the bearing in good condivoir. tion fora considerable length of time.

Siniilarnumerals of referenceare employed In order to prevent the accumulation of to indicate corresponding parts throughout dust and dirt, the bearing isinclosed by a casthe several figures of the` drawings. .Y ing made in two sections', 22 and 23, the lower 95 The bearing is formed of two members boltsection being secured to or formed integral ed together, as usual, and comprising the withthe base or pillow andinclosing the ends lower pillow or base 10 and the cap l1, these of the bearing and the lower portion'of the members being provided with an internal collar, while the upper section 23 is secured.V bushing 12, of Babbitt or other metal, for the to the cap and is provided with a hinged lid roo 5o reception of the shaft or axle 13. These memor cover 2t, which may be opened when it bers may be arranged in the form of a block,' becomes necessary to renew the supply of lubricant. The lid and thc opening which it covers are preferably of such length as to extend the full length of the cap-piece proper in order that access may be had to the spouts and reservoir in the event of clogging and to permit cleansing and repairs. The two sections of the casing preferably overlap at a point in alinement with the axis of the shaft to prevent the entrance of dust at the joint, and the two portions of the casing are secured together by bolts 26, as indicated in Fig. 2.

Should there be any accumulation of oil in the lower portion of the casing, it will overflow into the groove 17 and be carried up and delivered to the reservoir, so that leakage from the casing proper is prevented.

As the device is applicable to any form of bearing, the term journal-box has been used in the claims to designate a bearingblock, hanger, or any other form of bearing for the support of a revoluble shaft or axle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. The combination with ajournal-box having an upper lubricant-reservoir and -adapted for the support ot' a shaft, of a grooved co1- upper and lower' members adapted for the reception of a shaft, a lubricant-reservoir formed in the upper memberand in communication with the shaft, a grooved collar carried by the shaft and adapted to receive and contain lubricating material draining from the reservoir, the lower journal-box member being provided with a projecting inclined rib or ange for directing the lubricant into the groove, a casing encircling the collar and forming a drainage-reservoir for the accumulation of excess of lubricant, and a drainspout carried by the upper journal-box member and projecting into the groove.

3. The combination in a journal-box, of the upper and lower members adapted for the reception of a shaft, a lubricant-reservoir formed in the upper member and in communication with said shaft, grooved collars carried by the shaft at each end of the bearing, there being ribs or flanges projecting from the opposite end of the lower member to a point within the grooves, drain-spouts carried by the upper member and extending within said grooves, a casing encircling the ends of the journal-bearing, the reservoir and the collars, said casing having an open top portion, and a cover or lid for closing said opening.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. SMITH, JR.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. BLUM, EDWARD OTT. 

